Berlin

 

It usually takes me a while to get back into the swing of things after returning from a trip. And ages to unpack. I emptied my suitcase, but dumped most of the stuff into another bag and that remains unpacked. Somehow getting everything unpacked just reinforces the fact that vacation time is over. So might as well put that off as long as possible. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
I did manage to get some of my film developed though. I think I still have two other rolls and some pictures on my phone as well. The ones above include a trip to Tempelhof, a tour group of Trabis, a view of the Landwehr Canal from the Charlottenburg bridge, and days of wandering around Mitte and Museumsinsel. I'm already ready to get back on a plane just looking at these.

Grüße aus Berlin

• After a terrible flight experience (curse you, United!), I'm in Berlin and staying very close to where I grew up, which is slightly strange. Some things have changed quite a lot, but it's also quite surprising that some shops and restaurants have stayed the same after nearly 20 years.

• I've had Pommes to eat nearly every day (they are my favourite food, after all). One place didn't have mayonnaise for them, which is absolute madness. They tried to offer ketchup instead. Again: madness! 

• I went to the market at Winterfeldtplatz today and got Pommes mit Mayo and these Polish shoes.

London (3)

A few more photos from London. We stayed in a flat in Camden, which was pretty awesome. I don't like staying in hotels and am too picky to stay in hostels, so renting a flat was the perfect option. Plus then you don't have to eat out all the time!

London (2)

These are the only photos I could manage since I was pretty much freaking out the whole time.

The highlight of my trip to London was definitely seeing Blur at the Brits, which was the main motivation for my going in the first place. I know they got a lot of negative press afterwards, and yes, I might be a bit biased, but I thought they were amazing and the most exciting performers of the night.

A few days later, we went to the National Portrait Gallery, where there was a Lucian Freud exhibit. I was really struck by the following quote from him: What do I ask of a painting? I ask it to astonish, disturb, seduce, convince.

It reminded me of what I look for in the music and made me consider what it was that I that I love so much about Blur (and all my favourite bands/musicians). I'm not just interested in something that's easy and pretty and safe. I want music that excites me and challenges me and maybe even scares me. Sure, their performance wasn't the most polished of the acts that night, but it wasn't staid and choreographed. It was full of excitement and energy and enthusiasm.

And to be perfectly honest, I was so caught up in everything and excited to be there that I really enjoyed all of the performances, even though I don't listen to any of the other artists and didn't know the songs.

Okay, I always feel super pretentious when I try to talk seriously about music and this happened nearly two weeks ago, but I just felt the need to share this.

London

Just a few photos from my trip to London. I had a really fantastic time. I was feeling a little guilty travelling all the way to Europe and not spending any time Berlin (the first time ever), but, to be honest, I'm glad I didn't try to squeeze both into the little over a week I had. I feel like whatever time I spend in London is never enough. There's just so much to see and do and eat and experience. But mostly I kind of just like visiting different areas and wandering around.

I did bring home an awful lot of tea and vegan sweets. Including a bag of peach flavoured gummy candies, which I tried to savour and only eat a couple a day, but I ended up finishing the bag in 3 days. Now I'm trying to hunt them down online.

London Loves

Doing some last-minute, late night packing (is there any other kind?) for my trip. I'm off tomorrow for a week. A week without checking work emails, which is a first. I'll have internet access, but I'm flatly refusing to do any work while I'm away.

A week without work is exciting enough, but I'm seeing Blur (and the other artists performing...) at the Brits on Tuesday! I can't even express my excitement about this, you guys!

Well, I should finish up my packing and try to get some sleep. See you when I get back!

San Francisco.

Last week I went to San Francisco fora few days. It was nice and sunny, but very cold. The highlights (neither of which I photographed):
- Chips (or fries or whatever you want to call them - I call them Pommes) with Curry Ketchup and a super delicious salad at Frjtz in Hayes Valley
- The multiple Kinokuniya stores in Japantown! I only had a backpack, so I had to exercise considerable restraint and not buy tons of stuff
Also: the cute sourdough bread in the shape of turtles and bears! Except I wouldn't buy one because I didn't want to bite their heads off...because I'm a baby like that.